Royal Preston Hospital maternity workers granted new staff room

Pictured from left to right are Preceptorship Lead Midwife Sarah Dixon, Training and Support Midwife Samantha Leonard, Midwife Donna Dring, Practice Educator Midwife Brittany Ogdin, Delivery Suite Manager Hannah Mercer, Delivery Suite Housekeeper Amanda Hewitson and Safety and Quality Matron Emma Holden — Delivery suite staff pictured from left to right Sarah Dixon, Samantha Leonard, Donna Dring, Brittany Ogdin, Hannah Mercer, Amanda Hewitson and Emma Holden. Pic: Lancashire Teaching Hospitals

Sharoe Green Maternity Unit’s staff room at Royal Preston Hospital has had a refurbishment, funded by local charity, Baby Beat.

Midwives and other maternity staff at Royal Preston now have a new ‘sanctuary,’ where they can relax and take a break while on shift.

The £17,138 refurbishment was requested by the delivery suite manager, Hannah Mercer, with the aim of creating an environment which promotes staff health, safety and well-being.

Hannah said: “Our maternity team includes obstetricians, midwives, maternity support workers and clerical staff.

“They can work under incredible strain over a 24-hour period, covering long days and nights.

“It is important they remain empowered to provide the safest, most compassionate care to our patients.

“In order to promote staff health and wellbeing and the engagement necessary for them to perform their roles to the highest level, they need to take allocated breaks in an environment that is supportive of their needs, comfortable and inviting – a sanctuary to relieve stress, wind down and recharge.”

Delivery Suite Manager Hannah Mercer with Baby Beat’s Joanna Allitt. Pic: Lancashire Teaching Hospitals

The room includes calming decor, new furniture to improve comfort and the creation of a separate zone for making and eating meals, as well as a relaxation and rest area.

Head of charity for Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Dan Hill said: “It is generally acknowledged that its staff are the NHS’s greatest and most valuable asset.

“We are therefore delighted that through Baby Beat, we are able to have undertaken this project for delivery suite staff.

“We are confident patients will reap the rewards of being looked after by a team that is itself made stronger and more resilient by a break-out area that enables members to recharge more effectively.”

Baby Beat funds specialist equipment, additional training and staff welfare projects so the maternity and gynaecology teams can provide the best possible care for babies and mums across Lancashire and Chorley.

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